The thrilling FA Cup wins over Wrexham and Leicester City at Rodney Parade are the only victories the Exiles have registered since they beat Northampton Town so impressively on November 27.

And, going back further, they have won only three of their last 16 games in the league – more than a third of the season – and taken just 14 points out of 48 available since Flynn was named manager of the month for September.

Flynn’s men were second in the table after their 4-2 win over Cambridge United on September 29 but they now find themselves down in 13th.

There are still 20 games to play and, as the statistics above clearly demonstrate, a lot can change in that time.

But it’s obvious that County need to string a few wins together quickly if they are to have any hope of getting back into the race for the play-offs.

If their current form does not improve then they may even begin to be dragged into a fight at the wrong end of the table, although that excellent start to the season means a mid-table finish looks most likely at this stage.

Although there was a downturn in results from late-January to early April last season, this current run is probably the toughest test of Flynn’s fledgling managerial career.

So far, it’s been a remarkable success story – from the Great Escape to last season’s FA Cup heroics and an 11th-place finish in League Two and the superb start to this campaign.

This term could still go either way and it’s at times like these when the experience of management consultant Lennie Lawrence will be vital.

It’s a little-known fact that the 71-year-old’s real name is actually Robin but, if Flynn is County’s Batman then assistant Wayne Hatswell is Robin and Lawrence is playing the role of wise elder statesman Alfred.

With more than 1,000 games under his belt as a manager, who better to advise a young boss still learning his trade?

“Lennie Lawrence is really important,” said Flynn last week.

“He’s been there, seen it, done it. He must have been involved and sat on the bench for more than 2,000 games.

“He’s managed over a 1,000, then another 1,000 as assistant or director of football or consultant.

“With coaching as well, I’m probably on about 200 – just 10 per cent of Lennie’s total.

“He loves it. Me and Hats have given him a new lease of life and it’s good,” he added.

“We’re a good team, Wayne Hatswell is brilliant and he’s somebody that’s very important to me as is Jim [goalkeeping coach James Hollman].

“It’s a team effort – it’s not just about Michael Flynn. It’s about us collectively as a group and the players know that as well.

“I brought Lennie here because I know I don’t know everything, we were in a tough situation and Lennie had been through something like that or maybe not as bad as that – experienced relegation battles.

“It was a no brainer really. I was adamant I wanted Lennie in and I was adamant I wanted Wayne in. Otherwise, what was the point of me taking that risk?”

As well as sharing his advice on getting through a sticky patch, Lawrence will be able to provide an insight into FA Cup fourth-round opponents Middlesbrough.

He was Boro boss between 1991 and 1994, winning promotion to the inaugural Premier League in 1992.

Lawrence also won promotions as a manager with Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City and as a director of football at Bristol Rovers.

“I wanted to do it the way we all wanted to do it because I thought it would work,” said Flynn. “My missus didn’t, but I did and thankfully it worked.

“She’s happy now but, having said that, she sees the amount of phone calls and meetings I have to go to – it’s not always winning football games and celebrating.

“She’s with me when we lose, when we get beat 6-0 at home, and I’m down because it really hits me.”

I, for one, am confident that there will be happier times ahead for Flynn and his hometown club.

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